Lindsay Pantry

MAGICIAN Dynamo has become the latest big name to back Bradford’s bid to host the Great Exhibition of the North.

The illusionist, whose real name Steven Frayne, was born in the city in 1982 and grew up on Delph Hill estate.

Bradford became the first city in Yorkshire to announce it would bid to host the two-month spectacular of art, culture and design in May.

Mr Frayne, who follows triathlon champions Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, who announced they were backing the bid on Wednesday, said: “Bradford has undergone a huge amount of change over the past few years and become an incredibly vibrant, multicultural city.

“The people and culture of Bradford have always been a huge inspiration to me in my career and I can’t think of a more magical place to host The Great Exhibition of the North than my hometown.”

Mr Frayne’s great-grandfather taught him how to perform illusions at the age of seven to help deter bullies. His breakthrough came in 2006 when he made a documentary called Estate of Mind for Channel 4.

He has since performed for the Prince of Wales and stars including Will Smith, Brad Pitt and Samuel L Jackson.

Susan Hinchcliffe, Council Leader, said: “Dynamo has a truly inspiring life story and we are very proud of his international success as an A-list performer who celebrates his northern roots.

“It is wonderful to have backing of Dynamo and we agree wholeheartedly with him that there is no place as magical as Bradford.”